10 Most Used Study Strategies
What Works, What Doesn't, and How to Optimize Your Study Routine
Every student has their go-to study methods, but are they actually effective? We analyzed data from thousands of students, educational research, and learning science studies to identify the most commonly used study strategies—and more importantly, which ones actually work. The results might surprise you.
Study Strategy Usage: The Numbers
Source: National Student Learning Survey 2024
The data reveals a troubling pattern: the most popular study strategies are often the least effective, while the most powerful techniques are severely underutilized. Let's break down the top 10 most used study strategies and evaluate their effectiveness.
The Top 10 Most Used Study Strategies
#1 Highlighting and Underlining
What it is: Marking important text with highlighters or underlining key passages while reading.
Why it's popular: It feels productive and creates colorful, organized notes that look impressive.
Why it doesn't work: Highlighting is passive and doesn't require deep processing. Students often highlight too much (up to 70% of text), making it meaningless. It creates an illusion of learning without actual comprehension.
Better alternative: Use the Cornell Note-taking system or create summary questions instead of highlighting.
#2 Re-reading Notes and Textbooks
What it is: Reading the same material multiple times, often right before exams.
Why it's popular: It's easy, familiar, and creates a false sense of mastery through recognition.
Why it's ineffective: Re-reading creates familiarity, not understanding. The brain recognizes information but can't recall it independently. Time-consuming with minimal retention benefits.
Better alternative: After reading once, close the book and try to recall the main points. Then check your accuracy.
#3 Cramming Before Exams
What it is: Intensive studying in the days or hours immediately before an exam.
Why it's popular: Procrastination, time pressure, and the adrenaline rush of last-minute studying.
Why it fails: Information goes into short-term memory only. Causes stress, fatigue, and poor performance. Knowledge is forgotten within days of the exam.
Better alternative: Distribute study sessions over weeks using spaced repetition. Study for 25-50 minutes daily rather than 8 hours the night before.
#4 Making Detailed Notes
What it is: Writing comprehensive, detailed notes during lectures or while reading.
Why it's popular: Feels productive and creates a comprehensive study resource.
Mixed effectiveness: Good for initial processing but often becomes passive transcription. Students focus more on writing than understanding.
Optimization tip: Use the Cornell method: divide pages into notes, cues, and summary sections. Review and create questions from your notes within 24 hours.
#5 Group Study Sessions
What it is: Studying with classmates in groups of 3-8 people.
Why it's popular: Social interaction makes studying more enjoyable and less isolating.
Variable results: Highly effective when structured with clear goals and active participation. Often becomes social time with minimal learning when unstructured.
Optimization tip: Set specific goals, assign roles, and use techniques like teaching each other or group quizzing. Limit groups to 3-4 people.
#6 Flashcards
What it is: Using cards with questions on one side and answers on the other for self-testing.
Why it works: Forces active recall, provides immediate feedback, and can be used with spaced repetition.
Best for: Vocabulary, formulas, definitions, and factual information. Less effective for complex concepts requiring deep understanding.
Optimization tip: Use spaced repetition apps like Anki or Quizlet. Focus on cards you get wrong and review them more frequently.
#7 Listening to Music While Studying
What it is: Playing background music, often with lyrics, while studying or doing homework.
Why it's popular: Makes studying more enjoyable and helps some students feel more relaxed.
Why it's problematic: Music with lyrics competes for cognitive resources, especially for language-based tasks. Can reduce comprehension and memory formation by up to 60%.
Better alternative: If you need background sound, use instrumental music, white noise, or nature sounds at low volume.
#8 Multitasking While Studying
What it is: Checking social media, texting, or watching TV while attempting to study.
Why it's popular: Digital devices are addictive, and students often overestimate their multitasking abilities.
Why it destroys learning: The brain cannot truly multitask—it rapidly switches between tasks, losing efficiency and comprehension. Can reduce learning effectiveness by up to 40%.
Better alternative: Use the Pomodoro Technique: 25 minutes of focused study, then a 5-minute break for distractions.
#9 Studying in Bed or Comfortable Places
What it is: Studying while lying in bed, on a couch, or in other relaxed positions.
Why it's popular: Comfortable and convenient, especially for reading or reviewing notes.
Mixed results: Comfortable positions can reduce alertness and focus. However, some light reading or review can work in relaxed settings.
Optimization tip: Use comfortable spaces for light review only. Do intensive studying at a desk with good lighting and minimal distractions.
#10 Practice Tests and Quizzes
What it is: Taking practice exams, quizzes, or self-tests to evaluate knowledge and identify gaps.
Why it's underused: Feels harder than passive review, and students often avoid discovering what they don't know.
Why it's incredibly effective: Combines active recall, immediate feedback, and identifies knowledge gaps. Research shows it can improve retention by up to 50% compared to re-reading.
How to maximize: Take practice tests regularly, not just before exams. Focus on questions you get wrong and understand why the correct answer is right.
Effectiveness Summary: The Paradox
Most Used = Least Effective
- Highlighting (87% usage)
- Re-reading (76% usage)
- Cramming (68% usage)
- Music with lyrics (43% usage)
- Multitasking (39% usage)
Least Used = Most Effective
- Practice tests (23% usage)
- Flashcards (47% usage)
- Active recall techniques
- Spaced repetition
- Teaching others
Key Insight: The most popular study methods feel easier and more comfortable, but they're often the least effective for long-term learning and retention.
Building an Effective Study Routine
Now that you know which strategies work and which don't, here's how to build a study routine that maximizes your learning efficiency:
Replace Passive with Active
Instead of highlighting and re-reading, use active recall techniques. After reading a section, close the book and try to explain the key concepts aloud or in writing.
Implement Spaced Repetition
Review material at increasing intervals: 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month. This dramatically improves long-term retention.
Test Yourself Regularly
Use practice tests, flashcards, or create your own quizzes. Testing isn't just for evaluation—it's one of the most powerful learning tools.
Create a Distraction-Free Environment
Turn off notifications, use website blockers, and study in a dedicated space. Your brain needs focused attention to form strong memories.
Use the Pomodoro Technique
Study in focused 25-minute blocks with 5-minute breaks. This maintains concentration and prevents mental fatigue.
The Science Behind Effective Learning
Understanding why certain strategies work helps you apply them more effectively:
🧠Cognitive Load Theory
Your brain has limited processing capacity. Effective study methods work with these limitations rather than against them.
- • Multitasking overloads cognitive capacity
- • Active recall strengthens neural pathways
- • Spaced repetition leverages memory consolidation
🔄 The Testing Effect
Retrieving information from memory strengthens it more than simply reviewing it. This is why practice tests are so powerful.
Research shows that students who take practice tests retain 50% more information after one week compared to those who just re-study.
Technology Tools for Better Studying
Modern technology can help you implement effective study strategies:
For Active Recall & Testing
- • QuizThisUp: Turn videos into interactive quizzes
- • Anki: Spaced repetition flashcards
- • Quizlet: Digital flashcards and games
- • Kahoot: Interactive group quizzes
For Focus & Organization
- • Forest: Pomodoro timer with gamification
- • Cold Turkey: Website and app blocker
- • Notion: Note organization and planning
- • Brain.fm: Focus-enhancing background audio
Conclusion: Study Smarter, Not Harder
The data is clear: the most popular study strategies are often the least effective. Students spend countless hours highlighting, re-reading, and cramming, while the most powerful techniques—active recall, spaced repetition, and practice testing—remain underutilized.
The key to academic success isn't studying harder or longer—it's studying smarter. By replacing ineffective habits with evidence-based techniques, you can:
- Reduce study time while improving retention
- Build lasting knowledge instead of temporary familiarity
- Perform better on exams with less stress
- Develop skills that benefit lifelong learning
Remember: changing study habits takes time and effort. Start by implementing one or two new techniques, and gradually replace your less effective methods. Your future self will thank you for making the switch to evidence-based learning strategies.
💡 Action Step
This week, replace one ineffective study habit with an evidence-based technique. If you typically highlight while reading, try active recall instead. If you usually re-read notes, create practice questions. Small changes lead to big improvements in learning outcomes.